Medicaments to combat autoimmune diseases, in particular systemic lupus erythematosus

Abstract

A pharmaceutical composition for use in the treatment of chronic Graft-versus-host diseases as well as autoimmune diseases, in particular for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus containing as an active ingredient at least one compound of the formulae 1 or 2 <IMAGE> 1 <IMAGE> 2 the latter being present per se or in the form of a physiologically tolerable salt. The invention also relates to a dosage unit form of said pharmaceutical composition and a method of treating chronic Graft-versus-host diseases as well as autoimmune diseases, in particular systemic lupus erythematosus.

We claim: 
     
       1. A method of treating systemic lupus erythematosus which comprises administering to a recipient an effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition containing as an active ingredient at least one compound of the formulae 1 or 2 ##STR3## the latter being present per se or in the form of a physiologically tolerable salt. 
     
     
       2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the composition is present in a form which can be orally administered. 
     
     
       3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the composition is present in a form which can be rectally administered. 
     
     
       4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the composition is present in the form of an injectable solution and contains as an essential ingredient a compound of the formula 2 per se or in the form of a physiologically tolerable salt. 
     
     
       5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the dosage unit is in a form which can be orally administered and contains from 10 to 200 mg of at least one of the compounds 1 and 2, the latter being present per se or in the form of a physiologically tolerable salt. 
     
     
       6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the dosage unit is in a form which can be orally administered and contains from 50 to 100 mg of at least one of the compounds 1 and 2, the latter being present per se or in the form of a physiologically tolerable salt. 
     
     
       7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the dosage unit is in the form of an injectable solution containing from 1 to 30 mg of compound 2 per se or in the form of a physiologically tolerable salt. 
     
     
       8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the dosage unit is in a form which can be rectally administered which contains at least one of the compounds 1 and 2 in an amount of from 50 to 300 mg, compound 2 being present per se or in the form of a physiologically tolerable salt. 
     
     
       9. A method according to claim 1, wherein the dosage unit is in a form which can be rectally administered which contains at least one of the compounds 1 and 2 in an amount of from 100 to 200 mg, compound 2 being present per se or in the form of a physiologically tolerable salt. 
     
     
       10. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein there is administered to a human recipient a daily dose in the range from 50 to 200 mg of active ingredient by oral administration, in the range from 10 to 30 mg by injection or in the range from 100 to 300 mg by rectal administration.